AUGUST 2, 2021 CLOGGED ARTERIES

Clogged arteries causes the arteries to narrow and restricts blood flow to the heart and other parts of the body. There are many causes and many treatments. There are surgical treatments, interventions with stents and few medications to unclog. There is chelation. However you can let food be your medicine.

More than often the blockage is caused by bad cholesterol which causes inflammation.

You can start by consuming berries. Berries include blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, and blackberries. These fruits are associated with an impressive amount of health benefits, including their ability to reduce inflammation and improve heart health. Berries are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. These include flavonoid antioxidants, which are known to help boost heart health. There are studies which show how the contents in berries reduce inflammation markers and reduce the bad cholesterol ( LDL:)

One fruit , the pineapple contains enzymes and bromelin. Bromelin has been shown in some studies to reduce inflammation and act as a blood thinner

Another food consumed throughout the year but especially in the summer months are tomatoes. Tomatoes and tomato products contain plant compounds that may be particularly helpful for reducing the development of atherosclerosis. Tomatoes contain the carotenoid pigment lycopene, which may have impressive health benefits.

Studies show that consuming lycopene-rich tomato products may help reduce inflammation, boost HDL (good) cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Interestingly, combining cooked tomato with olive oil may offer the greatest protection against clogged arteries.

These are just a few foods that can atherosclerosis. Combine these foods with herbs like ginger, tumeric, green tea, hawthorne and many more

Consult your naturopathic physician for more information

Until tomorrow…

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JULY 29, 2021 THE MOUTH-BODY CONNECTION

During my twenty seven years as a integrative physician/cardiologist I have had the opportunity to meet wonderful individuals- some of them are patients, and some of them are my colleagues. The colleagues are in a variety of specialties. One of them is Gerry Curatola, DDS who has been in practice for more than 30 years. He is the founder of Rejuvenation Dentistry on Park Avenue in New York City

How to create a healthy mouth ? Well ask no more You must read his book The Mouth-Body Connection by Gerald Curatola. We have known that reducing inflammation in the mouth is directly connected to reducing inflammation in the body.

For years I have worked with Sandra Senzon ( aka Tooth Fairy) at this problem.

Now a dentist gets the concept and follows through. His name in Italian means “ Cure all” and he does just that. As a physician/herbalist/healer I was engaging in reading his chapters. Then the 28 day Curatola Care Program tells the reader exactly what to do. The Mouth Does Matter and this book clearly demonstrates the fact that the mouth cannot be ignored.

Gerry has the clinical experience to back the written words. I would encourage every individual with or without known mouth/gum disease to read this book

Until tomorrow…

JULY 28, 2021 TRAVEL WITH WHAT HERBS

This is a difficult quest ion to answer . There are lots of herbs I travel with - I sort of have a first aide herbal kit that I travel with. I learned from the best in Herbal First Aid- 7 Song - Director of the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine., Putting the first aid herbs aside I would travel with three to four herbs in my back pack

California Poppy is a versatile, gentle herb that is a travel must-have! works rapidly to calm the mind, soothe anxiety, promote restful sleep, and help with minor aches and pains. I either would use this herb or Skullcap. These are my favorite nervines

ECHINACEA has been a top-selling herb for decades because it contains powerful compounds that support a healthy immune response. I use it as a go-to during cold and flu season ( with elderberry) I tell my patients and family to use it if you feel respiratory system coming on. It has been helpful during COVID

ASHWAGANDHA: Everyone in the past year should be on this herb. It is a great adaptogen herb to deal with stress. It is the yin and yang of relaxing and energizing in the herbal world. It makes you feel energized after a good sleep. Use with caution if talking thyroid medications or consult your naturopathic doctor

If you want a nice cup of Calmy Tea - with Skullcap and California Poppy call Botanical Bounty at 646 723 1823

Until tomorrow…

JULY 27, 2021 BORRELIA AND TREPONEMA

The Borrelia bacterium, which triggers the symptoms of Lyme, shares many qualities of other chronic infections and subsequent chronic inflammations with bacterium Treponema pallidum, the agent of syphilis and streptococcus. All of these infections can lead to autoimmune type sequalae after periods of unresolved chronic inflammatory processes.

Syphillis was once dubbed The Great Masquerader. I believe and know Lyme can be called by the same name

There are three stages of each disease - For Lyme: 1. Bull’s eye rash 2, Arthritis/ Joint involvement and 3 ) heart and brain; For Treponema 1) chancre ( skin lesion) 2. rash on bottom of feet 3) heart and brain involvement; These are very similar

There are many herbal protocols available for patient’s with Lyme. I utilize all of them rotating each protocol for 4-6 weeks Some include Reynoutria japonica (Knotweed),Dipsacus sylvestris (Teasel root) and Astragalus

Others include herbs discussed by Stephen Harrod Buhner in his two books Healing Lyme and Healing Lyme Disease Co- infections

I urge you to see a practitioner that has extensive knowledge of these herbs. There are other modalities as bee venom, anti microbial ( which are not conventional antibiotics ) and stem cell therapy

Until tomorrow

JULY 26, 2021 MERCOLA AND NY TIMES ARTICLE

Yesterday I received many calls about the New York Times article entitled “ The Most Influential Spreader of Coronavirus Misinformation Online ‘ by Sheera Frankel. It starts by stating “ Researchers and regulators say Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician creates and profits from misleading claims about Covid 19 vaccines.”

I read the whole articles and I am puzzled. I know Dr Mercola. I have met him, talked to him and read his blogs, posts and books. His first book in 2003 The No Grain Diet was excellent. It was a New York Times bestseller. It did give good information . A no grain diet improves health in patients with autoimmune disease as rheumatoid arthritis. lupus, etc

Let’s face it being a doctor has become and is a business. He is better at his business than most doctors. Yes he does write long posts and information to the public. I feel everything you read whether Dr Mercola or not should be researched. Authorities challenge him and his websites.

He puts firth good questions to think about., I know this- we are NOT done with COVID 19. Patients whom I have seen that have been vaccinated specifically with Pfizer ( 2 shots) are getting COVID. These patients were vaccinated in January or February are getting COVID

WEAR A MASK. i URGE YOU TO READ THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE

After you read it…ponder it…

JULY 23-25, 2021 MAGNESIUM: A VERY IMPORTANT MINERAL

Magnesium is a very important mineral needed in our body. You can take magnesium in various forms as magnesium orotate, glycinate, citrate, oxide and aspartate. Each type of magnesium can be used for a different array of illnesses. You can also get magnesium from your diet

There is so much to know about magnesium’s role in a healthy body, how much we need to take in, and which foods are rich in magnesium.
Magnesium acts like a helper, sometimes called a cofactor, in the body. Magnesium assists with the metabolism of food, neuromuscular transmission and activities, and plays a role in learning and memory. A depletion of magnesium (Mg) may cause migraine headaches, exacerbate asthma, cause irregular menstrual cycles, or leg cramps

You need at least 80 - 130 mg / day of magnesium. Halibut, spinach and brown rice contain magnesium—so add you your diet. Another source of magnesium are beans and nuts. Magnesium can also be found in orange juice and soy milk. I personally have little to no orange juice or soy milk. I prefer almond milk.

We do need protein in our diet. One study found that magnesium absorption was correlated with protein intake, when protein intake was lower than 30g/day, magnesium absorption also decreased.

Get this vital mineral/nutrient in your body every day

Until tomorrow…

JULY 22, 2021 HORMONES CAN MAKE YOU FAT

We do know that certain hormones can add weight to your body. Harvard University studied this exact topic. These hormones usually stay balanced in our 20’s. But once you’re over 35… They become harder and harder for our bodies to regulate. I can relate to this as many of my patients can also

Your thyroid hormone regulates your metabolism. If your thyroid is slow also known as hypothyroidism —you can gain weight. Other signs and symptoms of a slow thyroid can be fatigue, cold hands and feet, hair loss, constipation and weight gain. You must see a doctor and have your thyroid hormones measured. I perform TSH free t3 , free t3, Thyroid peroxidase antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies and reverse T3. I also measure selenium, zinc and copper as well as iodine. All of these can cause hypothyroidism.

I then measure cortisol which is the stress hormone from the adrenal glands. Cortisol responds to stressors in your life. I do practice Life on Life Terms but stress is stress. Once cortisol increases you start to feel the effects of living in a fright-fright mode and you start to notice increase weight in your abdominal area and hips. There are many adaptogenic herbs that help when your cortisol levels are high at the wrong times during the day. After a while our high cortisol causes adrenal burnout and you are tired in the morning but get a surge at the wrong times of the day. I measure cortisol and DHEA levels by saliva or by urine using the DUTCH test Ask your practitioner about these tests

Until tomorrow…

JULY 21, 2021 TEA BAGS OR NO TEA BAGS

This seems like an easy question to answer. Yet it is not. There are lots of discussion on whether you should use loose tea or tea in bags ( tea bags). As you can imagine loose tea with different types of strainers has been used for years. The very first tea bags had the full or broken tea leaves in it. As always with businesses a lower quality form of the tea can be used and substituted.

I am not saying this occurs with all companies that sell tea bags. I prefer some overt others as Bigelow Tea and another brand I buy in Whole Foods called Tea Pigs. I read about fanning> I didn’t know what “ Fanning” was. A fanning consists of small particles of tea that are left over from the production of tea. The tea on that bag is of low quality.

There is a problem with tea in general especially if you do not know where it is grown. There could be metal contamination. This would occur with tea in bags or in loose tea. You must know your source and the quality of the tea especially where it is grown. I also worry about tea bags as some are made with different materials, including plastic. Plastic can be harmful to your health

At Botanical Bounty we sell loose tea. We buy in bilk from organic fair trade companies. Each patch of tea has a certificate of where it was grown. This is especially important to me as a herbalist and physician. I make a perfect ( imperfectly perfect) cup of tea from Botanical Bounty’s loose tea of all types Call 646 723 1823

Until tomorrow…